Enjoying the last of sun’s rays as heatwave about to come to abrupt end with thunder, lightning and heavy rain

This morning Mid Ulster council said: “While some places stay dry, hit-and-miss thunderstorms will develop today – hearing thunder in Cookstown now – potentially bringing disruption in places.”

A weather warning has been issued thunderstorms today and tomorrow with heavy rain, and lightning forecast in some areas.

In Northern Ireland, the Met Office’s yellow warning for thunderstorms is in place from 9am today to 11.59pm tomorrow.

NI Direct warned of travel delays, difficult driving conditions, flooding and possible power cuts.

For those affected by flooding, the Flooding Incident Line number is 0300 2000 100.

In the calm before the storm, the highest temperature recorded in Northern Ireland on Friday was 28.5 degrees at Katesbridge while on Saturday it was very similar – 28.4 at Castlederg.

Many who had kept up to date with the weather forecast knew that Saturday was likely to be their last chance of catching some rays.

As such Northern Ireland sunseekers headed to the coast with Helen’s Bay in Co Down proving a popular destination.

But all good things must come to an end and Sunday was a lot more overcast though humidity remained high.

Speaking to the News Letter on Sunday, Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud confirmed the suncream could go back in the cupboard.

He said: “As we speak it’s last hurrah.

“It’s not always the case that heatwaves come to such an abrupt end.

“The heatwave in July swept away quite gently. This time we are more likely to see a more thundery, showery breakdown.”

Mr Stroud said that the yellow weather warning which ends on Monday night brought with it the prospect of heavy localised thundery showers, with 20 to 30 millimetres of rain falling in a relatively short period.

He said that in some places there was a risk of 50 millimetres falling in three to six hours which could give rise to flooding.

He said there was also a risk of hail and frequent lightning.

Asked if another heatwave was likely this summer, he commented: “It is fairly unusual to have two heatwaves on the back of each other.

“There’s potential for further dry and settled spells in the last weeks of August, though it is less likely as we move into autumn.”